The past couple of years have proved challenging times for the errant young swordsman (or swordswoman) about town.

Cash has been in short supply. People are on zero-hours contracts, if they’re in work at all. And the price of la dolce vita isn’t getting any cheaper.

So it’s little surprise, then, that more and more lusty young bucks are turning to their credit cards in order to woo a potential partner. According to the Money Advice Service, a fifth of UK adults (that’s about 12 million people, by their reckoning) have paid for a date on a credit card, loan or even borrowed from a friend in a bid to get their oats.

It’s mostly fellas footing the bill too – 64% of men quizzed by the Debt Advisory Centre have taken out credit of some sort to fund a romantic endeavour.

Melanie Taylor, a spokeswoman for the Debt Advisory Centre, fretted: “People feeling under pressure to spend beyond their means, simply to impress, is worrying. Most people are comfortable with splitting the cost of dates, rather than expecting one party to pay for everything.

“People should remember that credit needs to be repaid, and it can cause serious problems if it becomes unmanageable. Using credit to fund a lifestyle that you can’t afford is a definite sign that you need to reconsider your priorities. If you’re in need of some budgeting help, or are already struggling, talk to an expert.”

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News in brief

The Council of Mortgage Lenders reckons that mortgage lending rose to its highest level since 2008 in July.

Which? has issued a warning about an email scam doing the rounds, in which crooks masquerade as Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs. You can make your own joke here, I’m sure.

MONEY SHOT LETTERS

In a piece entitled ‘The Money’s Hot’, you clearly direct your unfortunate readers away from the well-trodden route of buying their car insurance from a bloke in a pub.

As such a bloke who has plied my financial trade in a variety of such establishments, I’ll have you know that the Mumbles Mile is a perfectly acceptable place to buy your cheap car insurance. I myself have personally sold thousands of such credible-looking polices, notably at the western end of the mile in the glory days before Cinderellas was closed.

Your outrageous article is veritably taking the mead from my mouth and is – I would suggest – nothing short of serious financial advice masquerading in some sort of bizarre Widow Twanky-style as so-called ‘engaging content’.

My legal team will be in touch in due course.

Dave Dominguez, Mumbles

Join is next week for another gut-busting edition of the Money Shot. Until then,send us your letters.